Improvement in label-holders for locks



UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

MARTIN MOHR, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO JOSEPH SCHEREB, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN LABEL-HOLDERS FOR LOCKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 211,250, dated January 7, 1879 g, application filed october 28,1878.

` `for Locks; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specitication.

My invention relates to a novel combination of a lock for mail-bags, together with a tag or label, so that the label-tag is connected with and forms a part of the lock, and that both may be secured together when the lock is closed, so that the label-tag may be readily removed and reversed, or another tag substituted when desired.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a face view of a lock with tag attached after the manner of my invention; Fig. 2, a face view of the lock with the face removed, showing a portion of the device for locking the tag to the lockcase5 Fig. 3, a reverse view of the face detached, showing the cam-lever and springs for locking the ta-g to the case, as hereinafter described; and. Fig. 4 a transverse section in the line x x of Fig. 3.

The lock herein employed to illustrate my invention is of the usual padlock form. A lower plate, A, intermediate plate, A1,I and outer plate, A2, form the casing of the lock, and are held together by screws or rivets, in the usual manner. The hasp B is pivoted to the'upper end of the lock, and is secured by a double pair of tumblers, C C, one pair of which are set above and the other below the intermediate plate, A. Suitable bowfsprings c c keep the tumblers pressed together until forced apart by the key. The mainsprin g D, pressing between the walls of the lower plate and a projecting nib, b, upon the hasp B, serves to keep the hasp open when released by the tumblers.

The tag E, upon which the label is cast, engraved, or otherwise permanently secured, is a flat plate of metal sliding between guides e e, formed upon the face, so that when unlocked it may be readily withdrawn. The tag E is securely locked upon plate A2 by means of a pin, j', passing through the plate and tag, and secured upon the end -of a retracting-spring, F, attached to the face-plate, the tendency of which is to keep the pin withdrawn from the plates, thus unlocking them.

A lever-arm, G, pivoted to the vpintle g, and held between the intermediate plate and faceplate, is provided at its upper end with jaws g1 g1, which embrace the nib Z1 of the hasp B, so that the lever-arm is worked backward and forward by the opening or closing of the hasp. The lower end, g2, of the lever-arm is wedgeshaped, and presses beneath the springy F when the hasp is closed, thus forcing the pin f out through the face-plate and tag-plate and locking them together.

A spring, e', secured to the inner side of the face-plate, presses against the tag and holds it firmly betweenthe guides, so that it will not become accidentally removed from the faceplate when unlocked therefrom.

Various devices may be employed for automatically locking or securing the tag to the lock-casing, and various forms of locks may be used without departing from my invention.

By means of the improved device above described I can dispense with the cumbersome tags now employed, and save much trouble in keeping the mail-bags passing over certain routes separate. e

The locks instead are kept separate and can be more easily kept accessible, any bag being used with them without changing the tags. The locks, however, may be alternated, if desired, changing their tag-plates, by the proper official. The label-tag may be readilyreversed upon the lock to indicate either of the termini of the route. 'v

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- A mail-bag lock provided with a label-tag secured to or released therefrom by a locking bolt or catch operated by a lever connected with the hasp of the lock. A

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I aix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MARTIN MOHR. 'Witnesses WM. H. Rows, H. A. HALL. 

